Greg (cc list). Thanks for alerting us to this video, which I have watched. I learned a good bit more from the pre-filed testimony and then reading the (not very long) bill. The bill authorizes (but not appropriates) mainly for a still not quite fixed indemnification process. I would expect the bill to be amended a bit based on the testimony.
Like you, I think the witness testimony is not very encouraging. I have one friend closely watching the small number of available of CCS test results - she says the program is a disaster. You don't pick that up clearly in this hearing - but explains why indemnification is so important to everyone. It seemed clear that the witnesses were unanimous that any Federal indemnification must be temporary - and not be complete. Some liability now appropriately remains with the developers. I was surprised that there was only oblique (very negative) reference to the recent APS report on air capture. I think the whole Geoengineering discipline (this list) would benefit a lot from a little more discussion along the lines of this hearing. Different forms of both SRM and CDR would seem to have quite different risk (and needed indemnification) profiles. If that discussion has reached the same level of sophistication as exemplified here (especially the last witness), I have missed it. The (maximum of ) 10 CCS projects will have a total of $10 billion in Federally assumed responsibility. There was agreement that this is appropriate only at this early stage. (Not clear if this is a maximum of $1 billion each - or cumulative $10). Getting something similar through the UN for similar SRM activities appears daunting. I think there is a much smaller risk and need for insurance indemnification for the CDR areas that don't involve underground sequestration. Based on this hearing, I would now argue strongly that Federal indemnification NOT be requested/allowed for the REDD+ or Biochar forms of CDR. Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Rau" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 10:35:40 PM Subject: [geo] Senate hearing For those interested, archived webcast of Thurs Senate hearing on CCS and air capture here: http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.LiveStream&Hearing_id=bc9e9485-df04-5fb0-8621-ac3afa2b26a6 But perhaps I can save you the agony of watching. The continued economic unviability of CCS comes to the fore (despite billions of investment), and now more is being requested to indemnify projects. Air capture is finally mentioned for a few sentences at about 51:30 into the session. No air capture experts were present. Very depressing given what's at stake and what little progress on CO2 stabilization has been made (and will be made) on the present course. -Greg -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en.
